by Jay | Aug 15, 2009 | NASCAR
BROOKLYN, Mich. (Aug. 15, 2009) — Hometown boy Brad Keselowski took advantage of a pitched battle between Kyle Busch and polesitter Brian Vickers — one that continued after Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series’ Carfax 250 race — to win for the third time in 2009.
With Busch and Vickers battling on the bottom of the track, Keselowski took advantage of the outside line to pass both drivers on the final lap at Michigan International Speedway, with Vickers finishing second and Busch third in a race that stretched Busch’s lead in the series standings to 339 points over Carl Edwards.
“I saw ’em bobble in (Turns) 3 and 4 there at the one-to-go, and I had ’em,” said Keselowski, who grew up in Rochester Hills, Mich. “I knew it. I knew I could get to the outside and kill the 32 (Vickers). I wasn’t sure about the 18 (Busch) — I don’t know what happened to him.
“Oh, my God, I won at home! I’m speechless. I can’t believe it. I’m terrible here, and to win here is a major accomplishment. … It’s so cool to win in front of your home fans, and I thank all of them that came out tonight.”
Vickers led Busch into Turn 3 on the next-to-last lap and slipped in the corner. Busch drove to the inside, and Vickers side-drafted the No. 18 Toyota and forced him down onto the apron as the cars roared out of Turn 4. With momentum to the outside, Keselowski made it three-wide as the cars took the white flag for the final lap.
Keselowski crossed the finish line .199 seconds ahead of Vickers, with Busch a close third. David Ragan and Kevin Harvick finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Busch took issue with the way Vickers had raced him on the final two laps and confronted him on pit road after the race.
“Oh, man, I am so sorry — I forgot it was the Kyle Busch show,” Vickers said sarcastically, after climbing from his car. “Hell, I thought we were racing for a win. … I thought it was my job to hold him off. Apparently not. He came over to the car after we came in and knocked the fender in, which was unnecessary, and then started crying like a little baby.
“I asked him if he’d give me a minute to get out, and we could talk about it like men. If he wanted to fight, that was fine with me. When I got out, he ran off. It’s a shame that it went down like that. We were racing hard. I thought it was a good race. Congratulations to the 88 (Keselowski). He snuck around both of us. I didn’t see him coming.”
Busch thought Vickers should have given him room and let the two strongest cars battle for the win.
“It’s so frustrating that you can’t have a guy race you clean,” Busch said. “He was on our right rear quarter panel all the way down the front straightaway and gave the win to the 88 car. He slowed us down so much — he had no idea the 88 car was coming, and the 88 just drove right by both of us on the outside, because Brian Vickers was trying to slow both of us down. Just stupid.
“If he would have ran his own line up at the top of the track, and I had run my own line down at the bottom of the track, it could have been us two. But, unfortunately, you race with idiots, and I guess you’ll have that sometimes.”
An accident on Lap 3 put a damper on Edwards’ 30th birthday celebration. Edwards was three-wide on the outside in Turn 2 with Trevor Bayne in the middle and Brad Coleman on the bottom when contact between Edwards’ Ford and Bayne’s Toyota sent Edwards into the marbles at the top of the track.
Edwards fought to regain control, but the cars touched again and Edwards slammed nose-first into the outside wall. The impact eliminated the No. 60 Ford from the race — the first time Edwards has failed to finish a NASCAR Nationwide Series event since May 2008 at Darlington.
“I saw the replay, and it definitely looks like I didn’t give Trevor enough room,” said Edwards, who held second place in the standings but lost touch with Busch, the leader. “I drove in and kind of pinched him down.”
Notes: When Busch passed Vickers for the lead off Turn 4 on Lap 14, Busch extended his streak of NASCAR Nationwide Series races led to 20, advancing the record 19 he had shared with Sam Ard. … Busch’s record streak of finishing either first or second in Nationwide Series races ended at 10.
by Jay | Aug 15, 2009 | Maine, Unity
Unity, Maine – Fred Brown of Winterport outran all troubles developing behind him in a wild Late Model feature, topping the Friday night racing card at Unity Raceway. Steve Rackliff of Starks and Bradley Bosworth of Clinton each won a pair of feature races, with other victories posted by Glenburn’s Steve Moulton, Unity’s Dustin Hubbard, Veazie’s Kyle Gallant, Skowhegan’s Justin Moore, Molly Feeney of Hope and Henry Boudreau of Winterport.
Friday night at the fights is scheduled for August 21st, but the top-tier Late Model racers took the gloves off even before the green flag flew. Joe Allard and Joey Doyon were done for the night before a lap could be completed, then later in the event point leader Frank Moulton had his car destroyed in an altercation which produced a black flag for David Folsom II. That incident took place just a handful of laps after Folsom and Moulton got together, with Folsom spinning from the lead.
Fred ‘Pee Wee’ Brown took charge of the Late Model main event after Folsom’s demise and drove to victory lane in his first appearance behind the wheel of a stock car this season. Phil Richardson of Carmel, who finally cured mechanical demons that had plagued him in his previous Unity Raceway appearances, dove to an impressive second-place finish, with early leader Picard claiming the final podium position. Ajay Picard of Palmyra finished fourth, with Jerry Robbins, Jr. of Montville rounding out the top five. Moulton won the heat race.
Steve Moulton took the lead from semi-teammate Kris Watson of Hermon and held on to the top spot for the balance of an extremely-competitive Super Street division main event. Vassalboro’s Ed ‘Fubby’ Drake overcame a couple of apparent miscues to take second away from Watson, who did hold on for third-place laurels. Shaun Austin of Norridgewock came from the back of the pack three times to finish fourth, while Orrington’s John Kalel II was fifth under the checkered flag. Austin claimed the heat race victory.
Unity’s Dustin Hubbard, the reigning division champion, took advantage of a front row starting position and romped to victory by a wide margin in the Wildcat feature race. Frankfort’s Bobby Seger drove from the rear of the field to second position early in the race, easily holding on to that spot despite being unable to chase down the hometown teenager. Burnham’s Brent Chase raced hard to claim the third-place trophy. Chris King of Burnham finished fourth, followed by Luke Rickards of Anson. Hubbard scored in hear race action.
The Late Model Pro Four class had a pair of feature races, the first a 30-lap double-pointer held over from a rain-shortened card earlier this season. Steve Rackliff of Starks won both main events.
The first Pro Four feature was a thriller right down to the wire, with Rackliff just edging past Benton wheelman Jimmy Dennis under Bo Overlock’s checkered flag. Rackliff led, just about the final five feet of the 10-mile contest. Bryan Lancaster of Skowhegan filled the show position in the opener, with the top-five filled out by Corey Walker and Ben Nile.
Rackliff’s second score of the evening came after he prevailed in a long and spirited match-up with eventual runner-up Norm Cummings, Jr. of Augusta. Walker finished third to wrap up his 33rd birthday. Lancaster and Clinton’s Tim Robinson completed the top five rundown. Robinson claimed the checkered flag in the heat race.
Justin Moore outran Augusta’s Cody Sleeper to win the Flyin’ 4 feature event. Skowhegan’s Mike Mason drove from the back of the field into the lead in the race, but spun in front of the field in speedy-dri laid down for fluids spread on the racetrack earlier in the event. Moore lost a lap as a result of the spin, but put on a show charging from the back once again to pass all but the first two finishers in the closing laps, finishing eighth. Skowhegan’s Jordan Hawes picked up third-place spoils ahead of Sidney’s Nick Lizotte and Chris Williams of Oakland. Moore and Mason won the heat races.
Molly Feeney of Hope prevailed in Ladies division competition. Feeney held off all challengers following a restart after she inherited the lead from Mika Wilson, who spun off the backstretch trying to hold off the challenges of Feeney and Shelby Kimball. Wilson charged from the back of that restart lineup to finish in second position, with Bucksport’s Kayla Allen’s aggressive drive netting a third-place finish. Samantha Letourneau bounced back from a wild ride into an infield sand trap to finish in fourth position. Carol Wilson, Mika’s mom, was fifth at the line.
Bradley Bosworth swept Teen Thunder feature event action, and won the heat race to complete the trifecta. Like the Late Model Pro Fours, the kiddy class kicked things off with a previously-postponed double-point race, followed by a heat race and their regularly-scheduled main event.
Cole Robinson of Clinton and Gage Landry of Sidney claimed second and third positions in the first race, with fourth and fifth going to Cornville’s Matt Kimball and Brooke Getchell of Pittsfield.
Landry, Getchell, Daymon Dodge of Troy and Robinson filled out the top-five in the regularly-scheduled feature race.
Henry Boudreau led wire-to-wire in the Enduro race closing out the night’s action. It was a career-first trophy dash victory for the happy Winterport driver.
NWA On Fire professional wrestling joins the weekly Unity Raceway divisions for an action-packed doubleheader this Friday night (August 21) beginning at 6:00 p.m. The professional wrestling portion of the program is expected to get underway at about 7:30 p.m. Unity Raceway is located on School Street (Route 139) in Unity, Maine. For more information call (207) 453-2021 or visit unityraceway.info
Late Model: 1. Fred Brown, Winterport; 2. Phil Richardson, Carmel; 3. Louie Picard, Palmyra; 4. Ajay Picard, Palmyra; 5. Jerry Robbins, Jr., Montville; 6. Dylan Turner, Freedom; 7. Frank Moulton, Burnham; 8. David Folsom II, Skowhegan; 9. Joey Doyon, Winterport; 10. Joe Allard, Glenburn.
Super Street: 1. Steve Moulton, Glenburn; 2. Ed Drake, Vassalboro; 3. Kris Watson, Hermon; 4. Shaun Austin, Norridgewock; 5. John Kalel II, Orrington; 6. Artie Maguire, Bucksport; 7. Donnie York, Thorndike; 8. Steve Rackliff, Starks; 9. Hal Stratton, Belgrade.
Wildcat: 1. Dustin Hubbard, Unity; 2. Bobby Seger, Frankfort; 3. Brent Chase, Burnham; 4. Chris King, Burnham; 5. Luke Rickards, Anson; 6. Shawn Racilla, Dover-Foxcroft; 7. Jason Alton, Burnham; 8. Ed Sleeper, Vassalboro; 9. Mike Shaw, Troy; 10. Carl McAlpine, Burnham.
Late Model Pro Four make-up race, double-points): 1. Steve Rackliff, Starks, 2. Jimmy Dennis, Benton; 3.. Bryan Lancaster, Skowhegan; 4. Corey Walker, Augusta; 5. Ben Nile, Anson; 6. Tim Robinson, Clinton; 7. Dixon Smith, Sidney, 7. Shane Smith, Augusta.
Late Model Pro Four: 1. Steve Rackliff, Starks, 2. Norm Cummings, Jr., Augusta; 3. Corey Walker, Augusta; 4. Bryan Lancaster, Skowhegan; 5. Tim Robinson, Clinton; 6. Shane Smith, Augusta; 7. Jimmy Dennis, Benton; 8. Ben Nile, Anson; 9.. Gregg Cummings, South China.
Monsta Mini: 1. Kyle Gallant, Veazie; 2.. Mike Wilson, Chelsea; 3. Paul Jackson, Augusta; 4. Kevin Douglass, Sidney; 5. Richard Jackson, Augusta; 6. Bob Grady, Pittston; 7. Alica Goodwin, Clinton; 8. Dominic Bailey, Sidney; 9. Tim Robinson, Clinton.
Flyin’ 4: 1. Justin Moore, Skowhegan; 2. Cody Sleeper, Augusta; 3. Jordan Hawes, Skowhegan; 4. Nick Lizotte, Sidney; 5. Chris Williams, Oakland; 6. Merv Greene, Clinton; 7. Tony DeJulio, Ellsworth; 8. Mike Mason, Skowhegan; 9. Rick Pullen, Winslow; 10. John Fortin, Vassalboro.
Ladies: 1. Molly Feeney, Hope; 2. Mika Wilson, Chelsea; 3. Kayla Allen, Bucksport; 4. Samantha Letourneau, Benton; 5. Carol Wilson, Chelsea; 6. Alica Goodwin, Clinton; 7. Shelby Kimball, Cornville.
Teen Thunder (make-up race, double-points): 1. Bradley Bosworth, Clinton; 2. Cole Robinson, Clinton; 3. Gage Landry, Sidney; 4. Matt Kimball, Cornville; 5. Brooke Getchell, Pittsfield; 6. Wesley Turner, Montville.
Teen Thunder: 1. Bradley Bosworth, Clinton; 2. Gage Landry, Sidney; 3. Brooke Getchell, Pittsfield; 4. Daymon Dodge, Troy; 5. Cole Robinson, Clinton; 6. Matt Kimball, Cornville; 7. Eddie Gilblair, Skowhegan; 8. Kayla Chesley, Skowhegan; 9. Sheldon Woodard, Harmony; 10. Josh Hine, Livermore; 11. Wesley Turner, Montville.
Enduro: 1. Henry Boudreau, Winterport; 2. Robert Paddack, Clinton; 3. Josh Lorrie.
by Jay | Aug 15, 2009 | New England, Thunder Road
Barre, VT – Charlotte’s Rich Lowrey won for the second time in three events in the Late Model division at Thunder Road International Speedbowl. Lowrey’s win on Pepsi Night was his second feature win of the 2009 season, along with his win last Thursday night, August 6. Dave Whitcomb led the majority of the race before losing the battle with Lowrey in the final two laps. Whitcomb held on for second followed by Jamie Fisher in third. Grant Folsom and Cris Michaud rounded out the top five. Jean-Paul Cyr widens his lead in the championship point standings with his sixth place finish. Nick Sweet finished seventh followed by Matt White, Craig Bushey and Jerry Lesage.
Hinesburg’s Bobby Therrien won his second career NAPA Tiger Sportsmen feature after surviving a wild final lap. Therrien took over the lead with just under five laps remaining and weaved his way through a wreck on the final lap to take the win. Matt Potter just beat Derrick O’Donnell to the line to claim second with O’Donnell third. Young Cody Blake finished fourth followed by Joe Steffen in fifth.
Martin Ingram of Essex Jct. captured his first career Allen Lumber Street Stock victory on Pepsi night. Ingram started on the pole but had to battle the entire race to hang on for the win. Rookie Tucker Williams finished second followed by Michael Moore in third. Greg Adams came home fourth followed by another rookie Danny Doyle in fifth.
Donnie Yates of North Montpelier was the top finishing Power Shift Junkyard Warrior for the second night in a row. Yates was chased to the line by Ken Christman and Kevin Wheatley for the Warrior top three.
Next Thursday, August 20 is the second to last nightly event in the 2009 50th Anniversary Season at Thunder Road International Speedbowl. All four divisions will be in action plus there will be a poster contest for kids. Post time is set for 6:30 pm.
Late Model Unofficial Feature Results – 1. Rich Lowrey (8vt) Charlotte, VT, 2. David Whitcomb (25) Essex Jct., VT, 3. Jamie Fisher (18) Shelburne, VT, 4. Grant Folsom (81) Waitsfield, VT, 5. Cris Michaud (6) Northfield, VT, 6. Jean-Paul Cyr (11vt) Milton, VT, 7. Nicholas Sweet (88) Barre, VT, 8. Matt White (42vt) Northfield, VT, 9. Craig Bushey (05) Cambridge, VT, 10. Jerry Lesage (74) Winooski, VT, 11. Dave Pembroke (44) Montpelier, VT, 12. Eric Chase (40vt) Milton, VT, 13. Mike Bailey (00) Barre, VT, 14. Tony Andrews (1) Northfield, VT, 15. Brooks Clark (68) Fayston, VT, 16. Reno Gervais (12vt) Island Pond, VT, 17. Pete Fecteau (75) Morrisville, VT, 18. Phil Scott (14) Montpelier, VT, 19. Cal Poulin (87) Braintree, VT, 20. Trampas Demers (85) South Burlington, VT, 21. Steve Fisher (24) Shelburne, VT, 22. Dylan Smith (34) Randolph, VT, 23. Doug Murphy (4) Tunbridge, VT, 24. Joe Becker (16) Jeffersonville, VT, 25. John Donahue (26vt) Graniteville, VT.
NAPA Tiger Sportsmen Unofficial Feature Results – 1. Bobby Therrien (4) Hinesburg, VT, 2. Matt Potter (23) Marshfield, VT, 3. Derrick O’Donnell (68) Bradford, VT, 4. Cody Blake (99) Barre, VT, 5. Joe Steffen (00) Essex Jct., VT, 6. Tom Therrien (48) Hinesburg, VT, 7. Tony Rossi (90) Barre, VT, 8. #Erik Steel (32) Barre, VT, 9. Jeff French (06) Northfield, VT, 10. Mike Ziter (26) Williamstown, VT, 11. David Finck (37) Barre, VT, 12. John Lambert (2) Northfield, VT, 13. Pete Ainsworth Jr. (80) Middlesex, VT, 14. Shawn Fleury (31) Middlesex, VT, 15. Steven Quenneville (88) Barre, VT, 16. Joel Hodgdon (36) Craftsbury, VT, 17. Lance Allen (18) Barre, VT, 18. Brian Delphia (55) Waterbury, VT, 19. Joey Laquerre (15) E. Montpelier, VT, 20. Ricky Roberts (9) Washington, VT, 21. Mark Barnier (0) Essex Jct., VT, 22. Ray Stearns (89) E. Corinth, VT, 23. Scott Coburn (1) Barre, VT, 24. James Hebert (58) Williamstown, VT, 25. #Shawn Powell (40) Jericho, VT, 26. Josh Demers (10) Middlesex, VT, 27. #Kevin Godfrey (21) Wentworth, NH, 28. Doug Crowningshield (14) Barre, VT, 29. Brendan Moodie (94) Wolcott, VT.
Allen Lumber Street Stocks and Power Shift Junkyard Warriors Unofficial Feature Results – 1. Martin Ingram (7ss) Essex Jct., VT, 2. #Tucker Williams (99ss) Hyde Park, VT, 3. Michael Moore (06ss) East Haven, VT, 4. Greg Adams Jr. (38ss) Hardwick, VT, 5. #Danny Doyle (51ss) Hancock, VT, 6. Bruce Melendy (68ss) Danville, VT, 7. Mike Martin (01ss) Craftbury Comn,VT, 8. William Hennequin (47ss) Morrisville, VT, 9. Ron Gabaree (9ss) Barre, VT, 10. Bunker Hodgdon (83ss) Hardwick, VT, 11. David Greenslit (20ss) Waitsfield, VT, 12. David LaFleche (2ss) Graniteville, VT, 13. Markus Farnham (13ss) Randolph Ctr, VT, 14. Gary Mullen (29ss) Tunbridge, VT, 15. Timmy Campbell (34ss) W. Topsham, VT, 16. Scott Weston (04ss) Berlin, VT, 17. Joe Fecteau (75ss) Hardwick, VT, 18. Gary Bashaw (92ss) Lincoln, VT, 19. Tommy Smith (50ss) Williamstown, VT, 20. Donny Yates (05jyw) N. Montpelier, VT, 21. Ken Christman (4jyw) Cabot, VT, 22. Kevin Wheatley (31jyw) Williamstown, VT, 23. Kevin Streeter (61jyw) Waitsfield, VT, 24. Lance Donald (52jyw) Williamstown, VT, 25. #Daniel Lathrop (6ss) Hyde Park, VT, 26. Keith Fortier (35jyw) Hinesburg, VT, 27. Tyler Therrien (16ss) Barre, VT, 28. Dave Whitcomb (77ss) Elmore, VT, 29. David Allen (11ss) North Troy, VT, DSQ Michael MacAskill (3ss) Williamstown, VT.
by Jay | Aug 15, 2009 | Beech Ridge, Maine, PASS
Naples ME (8/15/2009) The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) National Championship trail winds north to Scarborough Maine’s Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on Saturday and Sunday September 12th and 13th, and Hollis Maine PASS North standout Richie Dearborn has filed the first PASS 300 entry.
Dearborn and his family-focused race team have supported the PASS North super late model series from day one. When PASS made its debut at Lee USA Speedway in 2001 Dearborn raced home third. Prior to 2009 he has recorded 3 wins (6th all time) 22 top five (7th all time) and 55 top ten (4th all time) finishes. His 2009 season has had its ups and down, but the team has persevered to record five top five and nine top ten finishes in the first ten PASS North events. That consistency has Dearborn in fourth place in the season long standings, seventy five points behind series point leader Johnny Clark. The PASS 300 will award both PASS North and National Championship points.
Dearborn and his Chadwick-BaRoss sponsored team will be seeking their first Beech Ridge PASS victory and the $10,000.00 winners’ share of the purse when the speedway hosts round two of the PASS National Championship Series. The big weekend is still a month away, but already there are confirmed entries from Wisconsin (Tom Schuette) North Carolina (Jay Fogleman, Ryan Blaney, Mark Gibson) and a host of PASS North regulars from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont.
Ben Rowe leads the PASS National Standings by a scant two points over Jeff Fultz. Ryan Blaney, Trey Mitchell and Hal Goodson sit third through fifth.
The weekend will feature two days of non-stop racing. All series and divisions will qualify on Saturday and the Wildcats, Road Runners and Legends will have feature events. Sunday kicks off with the PASS 300 “B” main for the super late models. Then, its 100 laps for the PASS Sportsman division, a 50 lap showdown for the PASS Mods and the grand finale, the PASS Super Late Model 300.
by Jay | Aug 15, 2009 | Video
A recap of the races that took place at Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, CT on the night of (more…)
